2017 ESA, ESA Certification Corporation, and Entomological Foundation Awards
2017 ESA, ESA Certification Corporation, and Entomological Foundation Awards
Each year the Entomological Society of America, the ESA Certification Corporation, and the Entomological Foundation provide annual honors and awards to recognize scientists, educators, early professionals, and students who have distinguished themselves through their contributions to entomology.
For more information on the ESA, Certification Corporation, and Entomological Foundation Awards, visit www.entsoc.org/awards.
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 43 Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
ESA’s 2017 Honorary Members and Fellows will be presented during the Opening Plenary Session on Sunday, November 5, 7:30 – 9:30 PM, and the Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, November 7, 7:30 – 9:00 AM. Both sessions will take place in the Four Seasons Ballroom of the Convention Center.
Honorary Members Dr. Roger Moon became professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Honorary membership acknowledges those who have Minnesota in St. Paul after 36 years of served ESA for at least 20 years through significant service in research, teaching, and outreach. involvement in the affairs of the Society that has reached an He earned a Ph.D. in entomology from the extraordinary level. Candidates for this honor are selected University of California, Davis, in 1979. His research by the ESA Governing Board and then voted on by the ESA concerns the biology, ecology, and management of filth membership. flies, mosquitoes, bots, keds, lice, bugs, and mites that occur around livestock, wildlife, and people. Roger has Dr. Gene Kritsky, a 41-year member of the published more than 130 articles, reviews, and book Entomological Society of America, received chapters for scientists and the general public, including his B.A. in biology (1974) from Indiana papers on stable fly ecology, swine mange, and University and his M.S. (1976) and Ph.D. fly-borne spread of PRRS virus. He taught or co-taught (1977) in entomology from the University of courses in veterinary entomology, medical entomology, Illinois. He joined the Biology Department at Tri-State veterinary parasitology, insect population dynamics, and University (now Trine University) in 1977 and was applied experimental design, and he has advised 15 awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Minya University in students to master’s and doctorate degrees. Roger Egypt from 1981 to 1982. In 1983, he joined the biology joined the Entomological Society of America as a faculty at Mount St. Joseph University, serving as chair student member in 1976 and has attended every annual (1985–1999 and 2011–2016), director of health meeting since then. He served as chair of ESA’s MUVE sciences (1999–2002), professor (1987–present), and Section, its Meeting Technology Committee, its dean of the School of Behavioral and Natural Sciences Publications Council, three of its editorial boards, and as (2017). He has served ESA as interim editor-in-chief subject editor for the Journal of Medical Entomology (2002–2003) and editor-in-chief (2003–2017) of (2002–2015). Roger was a founding member of the American Entomologist, making him the longest-serving all-entomologist band The Stridulators and has been editor-in-chief in the history of American Entomologist active since retirement as a bass guitarist in several and its predecessor, The Bulletin. Gene has also served geezer cover bands playing in the Twin Cities area. ESA on the Standing Committee on Public Information (1985–1986), the Membership Committee of the ESA Dr. Robert N. Wiedenmann is a professor North Central Branch (1985), and the Publications in the Department of Entomology at the Council (2003–2017). He was a co-convener of the University of Arkansas. He received a B.S. in International Congress of Entomology (2016), co-chair ecology and evolutionary biology (1985) and of the Local Arrangements Committee for the ESA Ph.D. in entomology (1990), both from National Meeting (2003), contributing editor to American Purdue University. After a postdoctoral position in the Entomologist (1998–2003), and chair of the Film biological control labs at Texas A&M University, he Advisory Committee (1986). He produced an ESA public worked for more than a decade at the Illinois Natural service radio series (1984) and presented the Founders’ History Survey. In 2005, he became head of the Memorial Award Lecture (2012). He is a Fellow of the Department of Entomology at Arkansas, serving until American Association for the Advancement of Science 2014, when he stepped down to return to the faculty. and a recipient of the Indiana Academy of Science’s He currently teaches the large-enrollment class “Insects, Distinguished Scholar Award, and he has published Science, and Society” and a hybrid live-distance class, more than 160 papers and 10 books. “Advanced Applied Entomology,” taught collaboratively with the University of Kentucky and Kansas State University. He has been a member of the Entomological Society of America since 1985 and has served ESA in many capacities, including program chair (2003) and Opening Plenary
44 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
president (2004) of the North Central Branch; president complexes” whose closely related members are of the Plant-Insect Ecosystems Section (2008); local often morphologically identical, yet differ enough arrangements chair for the Southeastern Branch meeting physiologically and behaviorally to contain both (2012); and ESA president (2013). Highlights of his non-vector and vector species. Her research on the service include leading the efforts to develop a Science Anopheles gambiae complex led to a resolution of the Policy Initiative, placing ESA in the policy arena, and historical branching order of its species—a longstanding increasing the Society’s visibility. He also redirected and controversy—and a recognition of the genome-wide strengthened the Student Transition and Early extent of introgression between two of its principal Professional Committee (now Early Career Professionals malaria vectors. Recently her research group has Committee) and furthered the Society’s efforts at begun to explore similar issues in the less well-known globalization and diversity. He led the effort to hold the but medically important An. funestus complex. Other first joint branch meeting, uniting the Southeastern and projects include understanding the role of chromosomal Southwestern Branches (2012). He has conducted inversions in local adaptation, and the genetic basis of research and outreach on biological control of insects ongoing ecological speciation within malaria vectors. and weeds and has been a critic of the potential Supported by the NIH, the Bill & Melinda Gates invasiveness of bioenergy crops. Foundation, and the World Health Organization, her research has resulted in more than 130 scientific publications. Fellows Dr. Besansky led a large international consortium that sequenced and analyzed the genomes of The designation of ESA Fellow recognizes individuals who 16 Anopheles species, and she remains active in have made outstanding contributions to entomology. generating and improving genomic resources for the scientific community. She serves as associate editor for Dr. Nora J. Besansky, O’Hara Professor of PLoS Pathogens and sits on several editorial boards, Biology at the University of Notre Dame including Current Opinion in Insect Science. She served (UND), was elected as Fellow in 2017. She is as member (and chair) of the NIH Vector Biology internationally known for her research on the Study Section. Dr. Besansky teaches undergraduate genetics and evolution of anopheline and graduate courses at UND and has advised 29 mosquito vectors of malaria. graduate students and postdoctoral fellows as well as Dr. Besansky was born in 1960 in Washington, DC, 31 undergraduate researchers. Dr. Besansky has also and grew up in the Maryland suburbs (Silver Spring). been elected Fellow of the American Association for the Her first paid job was as an intern at the newly minted Advancement of Science (2005), the American Society Smithsonian Insect Zoo (1977), followed by summers for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2014), and the Royal working as a technician at the Beltsville Agricultural Entomological Society (2016). Research Center and the Malaria Section of the Married to fellow medical entomologist Frank Collins for Opening Plenary Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at the National Institutes more than 30 years, they are the parents of two sons of Health (NIH), where her love of malaria vectors was and the devoted subjects of two cats. first cultivated. She earned a B.A. in biology from Oberlin College in 1982 and a Ph.D. in genetics from Yale University in 1990. After a short postdoctoral fellowship Dr. Lincoln P. Brower, research professor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of biology at Sweet Briar College and in retroviral diseases, she became a staff scientist with distinguished service professor of zoology the CDC Malaria Branch from 1991 until 1997, when emeritus at the University of Florida, was she joined the University of Notre Dame (UND) as an elected as Fellow in 2017. He is associate professor of biology, rising to professor in internationally known for his research on the chemical 2002. She was appointed O’Hara professor in 2010, and physiological ecology and conservation of the has served as associate chair of biology since 2015, and monarch butterfly. has been affiliated with the UND Eck Institute for Global Professor Brower was born in New Jersey in 1931. He Health since its inception. received a B.S. in biology from Princeton University in Dr. Besansky’s research has been motivated by 1953 and a Ph.D. in zoology from Yale University in an interest in understanding why the dominant 1957, working with Dr. Charles Remington. A Fulbright vectors of malaria nearly always belong to “species
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 45 Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
Fellowship allowed him to spend 1957 and 1958 in easement protects rich deciduous forest and abundant Dr. E.B. Ford’s Ecological Genetics Lab at Oxford wildlife, including many charismatic insects, on their University before joining the Biology Department at mountain land. Amherst College, where he rose from instructor to the Stone Professor of Biology. In 1980, he moved to the University of Florida, as professor of zoology from 1980 Dr. Yves Carrière is a professor in the to 1995 and distinguished service professor from 1995 Department of Entomology at the University until his retirement in 1997. Sweet Briar College, a of Arizona. He is internationally known for his liberal arts college in Virginia, appointed him as research research in applied insect ecology, especially professor of biology. ecological aspects of insect resistance to insecticides and transgenic plants, and development of In total, Dr. Brower has authored and coauthored landscape-based pest management programs. more than 200 scientific papers, edited two books, and produced eight films. His early research on insect Professor Carrière was born in Montréal, Canada, adaptive coloration led to collaborations with chemists in 1958. He earned a B.Sc. in biology and M.Sc. in and ecologists in exploring the chemical ecology of entomology with Dr. Jeremy McNeil at Laval University milkweeds, monarch butterflies, and bird predators. in Quebec. He obtained his Ph.D. in 1991 at Simon His photographs of a blue jay vomiting after eating Fraser University with Dr. Bernie Roitberg, studying the a monarch butterfly are classic. When the winter evolution of insect-plant interactions. He subsequently location of eastern monarch butterflies was announced was a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Derek Roff at McGill in 1976, Brower’s research pivoted to studying the University, working on the evolution of insect life histories extraordinary winter colonies in Mexico and to the and resistance to insecticides. He then worked as an microclimatic protection provided by the forests. On adjunct professor on the development of integrated pest his first visit in January 1977, Brower recognized management programs for turf grass insects with Dr. that the colonies could be lost to deforestation, and Jacques Brodeur at Laval University before taking his his work expanded to include conservation of this current position at the University of Arizona in 1998. endangered phenomenon. He conducted field and Dr. Carrière has studied numerous aspects of the laboratory research to understand the butterflies’ habitat interactions between insects and transgenic Bt crops. requirements, worked with conservation organizations These include the regional impact of deployment of and government agencies to design the monarch Bt crops on pest population dynamics, the impact of butterfly reserves, and encouraged the public to care fitness costs on the evolution of resistance, and the about monarchs through innumerable public lectures association between similarity of Bt toxins and factors and consulting for dozens of articles, books, and that affect evolution of resistance to pyramided Bt documentaries. In 2015, Dr. Brower was a signatory crops. He has also pioneered spatially explicit, large- on the petition to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to scale analyses of pest population dynamics, spread designate the monarch butterfly as a threatened species. of insect-transmitted viruses, patterns of evolution of Dr. Brower’s awards include the E.O. Wilson Award of resistance, and other factors related to management of the Center for Biological Diversity, Reconocimiento a la resistance to Bt crops. Dr. Carrière has produced more Conservación de la Naturaleza from the Mexican federal than 190 scientific publications, including a book, 12 government, Marsh Award of the Royal Entomological book chapters, and 140 peer-reviewed journal articles. Society, Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal from Yale, Henry His grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Bates Award of the Association for Tropical Lepidoptera, Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes Distinguished Animal Behaviorist Award of the Animal of Health, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, industry, Behavior Society, and the Linnaean Medal for Zoology. and other sources total more than $12.6 million. He is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society Dr. Carrière has enjoyed mentoring 39 graduate and Explorers Club, Honorary Life Member of the students, 12 as major supervisor and 27 as a committee Lepidopterists’ Society, and research associate of the member. He also mentored seven postdoctoral Smithsonian Institution and the McGuire Center for scientists and hosted five visiting scientists. He is Lepidoptera at the University of Florida. involved in science outreach to the public and shares Dr. Brower and his wife, Professor Linda Fink, share his interests in insects and cooking with thousands their home in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains with of visitors at the Insects as Food booth at the annual three German shepherds and two cats. A conservation Arizona Insect Festival. Opening Plenary
46 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
Recognition of Dr. Carrière’s achievements includes and Iraqi Freedom; commander, U.S. Army Center for selection as a Fellow of the American Association for Health Promotion & Preventive Medicine-South at Fort the Advancement of Science (2012); Distinguished McPherson; and chief, Medical Zoology Branch, and Alumnus, Simon Fraser University (2012); and Research chief, Department of Preventive Health Services, at the Faculty of the Year, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Army Medical Department Center & School. University of Arizona (2013). He was chosen to serve on Dr. Debboun is a board-certified medical and veterinary the National Academy of Sciences/National Research entomologist, a U.S. Department of Defense liaison to Council committee evaluating the impact of genetically the Scientific Review Committee and special advisor engineered crops on farm sustainability in the United to the Scientific Council of the International Committee States (2009-2010). of Military Medicine, and a member of six scientific Dr. Carrière was a professional skier for several years associations. Dr. Debboun has authored or co-authored before attending university and still enjoys skiing in more than 105 peer-reviewed scientific publications the White Mountains of Arizona. He lives with his wife, and a book titled Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, entomologist Kathleen Walker, and their son and and Disease and co-edited two other books: Insect daughter in Tucson. Repellents: Principles, Methods, and Uses and Insect Repellents Handbook. He also organizes and leads national and international public health entomology Dr. Mustapha Debboun is a medical and symposia, participates as a subject matter expert veterinary entomologist. He was born in scientific reviewer and editorial review board member of Tangier, Morocco, and received a B.A. in eight scientific journals, and serves as vice chair of the cellular and molecular biology from Skidmore Entomological Society of America Medical, Urban, and College in Saratoga Springs, New York; an Vector Entomology Section. Dr. Debboun is nationally M.S. in medical entomology from the University of New and internationally recognized for his work on global Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire; and a Ph.D. in military and civilian public health entomology and on medical and veterinary entomology from the University personal protective measures against disease vectors of Missouri-Columbia. and arthropod repellent research and development. Dr. Debboun is currently serving as the Director of the Dr. Debboun’s military and civilian awards include the Mosquito & Vector Control Division at Harris County Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star medals, six Meritorious Public Health in Houston, Texas. He has worked in Service medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer global military public health entomology, vector-borne Service medal, Order of Military Medical Merit, U.S. diseases, preventive medicine operations, research and Army Surgeon General’s “A” Professional Proficiency development of arthropod repellents, and field personal Designator for excellence and expertise in medical and protective measures. This work has taken him to more veterinary entomology, Distinguished Service Award than 35 different countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, to the Certification Program of the Entomological Europe, and Latin and South America. His main goal Society of America, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Opening Plenary is the integration of medical and veterinary entomology Outstanding Agricultural Service Award. with other academic and operational public health fields Dr. Debboun is married to his wife, Natalie, and they are to provide efficient and sustainable management of parents of a daughter, Ameena, and two sons, Adam disease vectors and human protection from the vector- and David. borne disease threat. Dr. Debboun has served with distinction in the U.S. Army in various military assignments and Dr. Michael S. Engel, a professor in the leadership positions as executive officer, 714th Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Medical Detachment; preventive medicine instructor, Biology and senior curator in the Division of Academy of Health Sciences; commander, 255th Entomology at the University of Kansas, Medical Detachment, Headquarters, Department of Lawrence, was elected as Fellow in 2017. the Army; medical research technology staff officer at He is internationally known for his research on insect the Pentagon; program research manager at Walter systematics and paleontology, and as a prolific writer, Reed Army Institute of Research; theater medical with more than 675 articles and books, including entomologist during Operations Enduring Freedom co-authoring with Dr. David A. Grimaldi the influential tome Evolution of the Insects (2005).
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 47 Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
Professor Engel was born in Missouri in 1971 but lived Dr. Engel presently lives in Lawrence with his wife, there for only 10 months before his family relocated Kellie, and enjoys time with his nephews and nieces, to the West Coast. In 1989, he matriculated at the classical music, and readings in philology, comparative University of Kansas, receiving his B.S. in physiology mythology, and history. and cell biology and B.A. in chemistry in 1993, and then promptly entered the doctoral program in entomology at Cornell University, graduating with his Ph.D. in Dr. Bernd Heinrich, emeritus professor of May 1998. After graduation, he was appointed as a biology at the University of Vermont and research scientist in the Department of Entomology formerly professor of entomology at the at the American Museum of Natural History in New University of California (UC), Berkeley, was York, remaining there until August 2000. In 2000, elected Fellow in 2017. He is internationally he returned to the University of Kansas, becoming known for his work in insect physiology and behavior assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and extending this work to ecology and evolution of and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and vertebrates, especially ravens. assistant curator in the KU Natural History Museum’s Dr. Heinrich was born in 1940, and from 1945 to 1950 Division of Entomology, assuming the position formerly his family lived isolated in a forest in northern Germany. occupied by his mentor, Professor Charles D. Michener. There he came under the influence of his father, He was subsequently promoted to associate professor Gerd H. Heinrich, an international explorer and noted and associate curator in 2005 and to full professor and Ichneumon taxonomist. The family emigrated to the senior curator in 2008. Dr. Engel founded the Journal of U.S. and he grew up in rural Maine. He received both Melittology in 2013, a peer-reviewed serial for the study his B.A. and M.S. from the University of Maine, Orono. of non-Apis bees, and has served as editor, assistant He earned his Ph.D. from University of California, Los editor, or editorial board member for numerous other Angeles, in 1970, immediately after which he joined the journals, including Systematic Entomology, Arthropod entomology faculty at UC, Berkeley, and attained the Systematics and Phylogeny, Entomologist’s Monthly rank of professor of entomology in 1976. He returned Magazine, ZooKeys, Journal of Paleontology, and to his New England roots in 1980, taking a position at the Cretaceous Research. University of Vermont. During his career, Dr. Engel’s research has contributed Dr. Heinrich has been interested in insects since early to an understanding of the geological history, childhood, starting with ichneumon- and caterpillar- phylogenetic relationships, past and present diversity, hunting and a collection of carabid beetles at age eight. and evolution of many insect lineages, as well as He has expanded his interests to numerous aspects those of Entognatha, Crustacea, Arachnida, and of biology. His research career started with protozoan Onychophora. His studies have made possible revised cell biology, leading to comparative physiology and classifications and evolutionary histories of termites, behavior of moths, then butterflies, bumble bees, honey zorapterans, lacewings, and bees, as well as syntheses bees, vespid wasps, dung beetles, dragonflies, sexton on the origin of major features in insect evolution, most beetles, caterpillars, and dipteran larvae. His major notably wings and flight. Aside from his paleontological discovery was thermoregulation of sphinx moths in endeavors, Dr. Engel has contributed to the systematics flight by a previously unknown mechanism in insects, and biology of bees, most recently working on the fauna which led to his continuing work in body temperature of the Arabian Peninsula. control and elucidating a new mechanism for social Dr. Engel received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2006 and temperature control in honey bees. The physiology was previously elected a Fellow of the Linnean Society and behavior opened continued work on bumble bee of London (2000) as well as of the Paleontological foraging energetics with application to relations of the Society (2008). He received a 2006 William T. Kemper pollen vectors to the evolution of flower diversity at the Fellowship in recognition of contributions to graduate ecological level. Subsequently, he contrasted aspects education, as well as the 2008 Charles Schuchert of the social biology of bees to that of ravens in their Award of the Paleontological Society, 2009 Bicentenary enigmatic sharing behavior evolved from competition for Medal of the Linnean Society of London, 2014 University prized food resources. Scholarly Achievement Award of the University of Dr. Heinrich is a prodigious author with 128 refereed Kansas, and a 2015 International Cooperation Award publications, with the most papers in the Journal of from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Experimental Biology (18), Animal Behaviour (nine), Opening Plenary
48 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
and Science (eight). He has written 20 books, 51 book how plant chemistry influences interactions between chapters, and 93 popular science writings in magazines plants and insect herbivores and consequences thereof such as Audubon, Natural History, and Scientific for community organization and ecosystem function. A American. His book Bumblebee Economics was a major emphasis of their work has been the effects of National Book Award in Science finalist. In addition to global environmental change on plant-insect interactions insects, he has published extensively on ornithology, in forest ecosystems. Dr. Lindroth has published including Ravens in Winter and Mind of the Raven, more than 200 journal articles and book chapters and which won the John Burroughs Medal for Nature mentored 24 graduate students and 20 postdoctoral Writing. His Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal scientists. His research program has been supported Survival was a New York Times Bestseller. by numerous grants from the NSF, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Energy. Now living with his partner, Lynn, in a self-made cabin in the Maine woodland property near his original boyhood Dr. Lindroth has served on the editorial boards of four home, he continues his active interests in entomology journals and on grant review panels for the NSF and and ornithology with field research and writing. He has USDA. He is recipient of a Fulbright Senior Scholar four children and three grandchildren. Award, the Silverstein-Simeone Award in Chemical Ecology, and numerous UW—Madison awards for research excellence. He is an elected Fellow of the Dr. Richard Lindroth, Vilas Distinguished American Association for the Advancement of Science Achievement and Sorenson Professor in the and the Ecological Society of America. Department of Entomology at the University Dr. Lindroth has been married for nearly 40 years to his of Wisconsin (UW)—Madison, was elected wife, Nancy, with whom he parented two extraordinary Fellow in 2017. He is an international leader daughters and now enjoys two grandsons. When not in the disciplines of chemical ecology, plant-insect working, he explores and speaks on topics at the interactions, and global change ecology. He has also interface of science and religion and pursues outdoor provided leadership in university administration, having activities abetted by carbon-fiber technology: cycling, served as associate dean for research and associate fly fishing, and canoeing. director of the Agricultural Experiment Station in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW—Madison. Dr. Lindroth was born in Batavia, Illinois, in 1954. As Dr. Sally Rockey, executive director of the a “free range” kid, his love of biology was nurtured Foundation for Food and Agriculture while roaming the fields, forests, and ponds of Research, is internationally known as the land that later became home to the Fermi National face of federal research administration in Accelerator Laboratory. He received his B.S. in wildlife agriculture and biomedicine and for biology at Iowa State University (1977) and his Ph.D. transforming government programs, allowing innovation in ecology (under George Batzli) at the University to flourish in the U.S. research enterprise. Opening Plenary of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign (1984). In 1985, Dr. Rockey was born in 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio. She he received a National Science Foundation (NSF) was enamored with biology from an early age and postdoctoral fellowship to work with Dr. Mike Scriber particularly loved animals, which led her to pursue at UW—Madison, where a focus on swallowtail-plant zoology at The Ohio State University where she received interactions provided an exciting on-ramp to the her B.S. in 1980. Having been struck by the curious world of entomology. Dr. Lindroth joined the faculty nature of insects, she went on to receive M.S. and of the Department of Entomology, UW—Madison, as Ph.D. degrees in entomology from The Ohio State an assistant professor in 1988 and was promoted to University and did postgraduate work at University of associate professor in 1992 and to full professor in Wisconsin prior to joining the government in 1986. Her 1996. He served as associate dean for research and first position was to oversee entomology programs at associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative from 2010 to 2016. State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Dr. Lindroth’s research program has been very broad, From there she moved up within the organization to addressing the roles of mechanisms that underlie lead the competitive research program. In her final ecological interactions at levels spanning the range from years with USDA she was the Chief Information Officer, biochemistry to ecosystems. His group has investigated applying her breadth of government knowledge to
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 49 Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
IT. From there she moved to the National Institutes Dr. Guy Smagghe, professor at the of Health (NIH). As deputy director for extramural Department of Crop Protection at Ghent research at NIH, Rockey oversaw the operations of University in Belgium, was elected as the largest extramural research program in the world. Fellow in 2017. He is internationally known There she led groundbreaking initiatives on scientific for his work with insects important in workforce, administrative burden reduction, and agriculture, devoting his career to advancing modern electronic government. NIH was where she started her agriculture, sustainability, and innovations in crop renowned “RockTalk” blog, which served as a model protection and pollination. for government communication and opened the door to Dr. Smagghe was born in 1968 in Belgium, admiring what was often considered a mystery, the NIH decision insects and their metamorphosis already as a child. making process. In 2015, Dr. Rockey was selected to He received an M.S. in agronomy and crop protection become the first executive director of the Foundation for in 1991 and his Ph.D. in 1995 at Ghent University. He Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit organization held different pre- and postdoctoral grants and was a established through bipartisan support in the 2014 Farm visiting postdoc in Spain, Switzerland, and the United Bill. Dr. Rockey was a natural fit for the position due to States. He was appointed as research professor in 2002 her extensive background in research administration and became full professor in 2012. His multidisciplinary and unique depth and breadth of knowledge of the team has a special emphasis on insect physiology, connection between agriculture and health. molecular biology, applied ecology, and mechanisms As a principal leader for research administration underlying the evolutionary success of insects against in the government, Dr. Rockey headed numerous the plethora of biotic and abiotic challenges in the federal committees such as the Research Business environment, all with the aim for an environment- Models Working Group of the National Science and friendly control of pest insects. Several model and pest Technology Council’s Committee on Science. She insects have been used, including caterpillars, beetles, served as vice president of the Human Frontiers of aphids, leafhoppers, and thrips. He also has an eye Science program, an international life-science grant for pollinators, bumble bees, and wild bees and their program that funded multinational teams of scientists pollination for better production in agriculture to feed conducting groundbreaking research. Throughout her an increasing world population. Dr. Smagghe also career, she has participated in hundreds of agency takes responsibility in government with respect to plant or government-wide activities on research policy and protection products and biopesticides as a member of programs, been a frequent keynote speaker, and given the Belgian Superior Health Council. At Ghent University, more than 1,000 invited presentations. In her current he is responsible for courses in themes of entomology, role, Dr. Rockey gave the prestigious Heuermann animal physiology, and novel biopesticides. Lecture at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln and was He has 25 years’ experience in basic and applied the featured speaker at the annual awards ceremony research into investigating the toxicology and mode of for the Golden Goose Award, which recognizes the action of new insecticidal compounds and tactics in tremendous human and economic benefits of research. pest control. He played a pioneering role in comparative As a manager of very large staffs, she has mentored endocrinology with insect molting hormones and numerous employees, many of whom have followed her ecdysteroid mimetics. Meanwhile, he is also an expert in into research leadership positions. setting up and developing different insect and receptor Dr. Rockey has been recognized for her numerous assays. With bumble bees and wild bees, he had a professional accomplishments, with the Presidential true pioneering position and is playing a forefront role in Rank Award for excellence in government leadership, Belgium, Europe, and the world. the Joseph F. Carrabino Award for promoting Dr. Smagghe has published more than 550 papers and government university relationships, and the Association 28 book chapters and presented more than 750 oral of Independent Research Institutions Public Service and poster contributions. Since 2002, more than 100 Award, among other recognitions. students have obtained their M.S. under his tutorship, Dr. Rockey is an avid reader, bridge player, and and he has been supervisor or co-supervisor of 42 Bruce Springsteen fan. Her husband, Sam Stribling, successful Ph.D. theses. He invests much in the training also an entomologist, shares her love of travel, and of young talent of the world. they often visit their son, James Stribling, an artist in Dr. Smagghe is very active in the community as editor Savannah, Georgia. of 18 international journals, including Pest Management Opening Plenary
50 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
Science, Journal of Insect Physiology, and Pesticide Dr. Spivak became interested in honey bee behavioral Biochemistry & Physiology. He has organized mechanisms of disease and parasite resistance (social conferences in Europe, the U.S., Brazil, China, and immunity) in 1991 when she conducted studies on Africa. At the Entomological Society of America, he is a hygienic behavior with Dr. Gilliam. She demonstrated, Publications Committee member. With his contributions in 1996, that hygienic colonies detect and remove on primary and continuous insect cell cultures, he was pupae infested with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, elected in 2007 as Fellow of the Society on In Vitro limiting parasite transmission. She bred the MN Biology and in 2016 as Distinguished Scientist. He was Hygienic line and used it to explore the neuroethological awarded the First Prize of the Belgian Royal Academy mechanisms of the trait and to test the performance and of Science, Letters, and Fine Arts in 1998 and elected parasite resistance of hygienic colonies in commercial Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement beekeeping apiaries. In 2009, she began researching of Science in 2012, and he has received three honorary the benefits of propolis (tree resins) to bees’ immune doctorate degrees (2011, 2014, and 2015). function and pathogen defense. Other studies by students in her lab include the development of the Married to his wife, Betty, for 25 years, they are the first honey bee cell line, investigations on the effects of parents of three children. agricultural landscapes and pesticides on honey bee and native bee health, decoding the dance language Dr. Marla Spivak, Distinguished McKnight to determine floral preferences of honey bees, and Professor in the Department of Entomology the creation of flowering “bee lawns” to support all at the University of Minnesota, was elected bees. In 2011 she started the Bee Squad extension as Fellow in 2017. She is internationally and education program within her lab, now run by known for her research on honey bee social Dr. Rebecca Masterman, for urban beekeepers and immunity and for her extension efforts on bee breeding businesses. She also helped start the Tech Transfer for colony health and productivity. Team program through the Bee Informed Partnership Inc. to help migratory beekeepers reduce colony losses. Dr. Spivak was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1955. She began keeping bees when she was 18 years old, Dr. Spivak was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in working for a commercial beekeeper in New Mexico. 2010. Recent awards include the 2015 Minnesota She received a B.A. in biology from Humboldt State AgriGrowth Distinguished Service Award, the 2016 Siehl University in northern California in 1978. She then Prize laureate for excellence in agriculture, and the 2016 traveled through South America, settling in Peru for Wings WorldQuest Women of Discovery Earth Award. some time before entering graduate school. She Her 2013 TED talk has had more than 2.4 million views. obtained her Ph.D. in entomology at the University She is married to Chris Carlson. Her son, Dr. Bryan of Kansas with Dr. Orley (Chip) Taylor in 1989 on the Alvarez, teaches music in Oakland middle schools. ecology and identification of Africanized honey bees in Costa Rica. From 1989 to 1991 she was a postdoctoral research associate at the Center for Insect Science Opening Plenary at the University of Arizona and the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service Bee Research Laboratory in Tucson, working with Dr. Gloria Degrandi-Hoffman and Dr. Martha Gilliam. She was hired in the Entomology Department at the University of Minnesota in 1992 on a non-tenure track appointment. In 1993, the position was converted to tenure track and she was hired as assistant professor in entomology; she was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 1999 and full professor in 2006.
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 51 Awards: Sunday, November 5 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Opening Plenary: ESA Fellows, ESA Honorary Members & Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor
The Entomological Foundation Medal of Honor was established in 2007 and is the highest award presented by the Foundation. It is given only to those who have made outstanding contributions toward fulfillment of the Foundation’s mission or entomological outreach.
Since 2003, Dr. Andrine Shufran has been coordinator of the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Insect Adventure entomology education program and facility, and in 2008 she became an associate specialist for youth within the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. This educational program travels far and wide, giving approximately 550 individual presentations and trainings on entomology and entomologically related topics annually. These presentations include professional ag development, classroom visits, community events, summer camps, insect collection trainings, 4-H projects, scouting badges, and open public hours. Topics include pollination, venomous arthropods, entomophagy, decomposers, insect art, and the ever-popular live petting zoo. To fulfill these presentations, Dr. Shufran maintains the OSU Insect Adventure facility, which houses 75 species of live arthropods. Dr. Shufran has been involved with the Entomological Foundation since 2010, serving on the Boards of Directors and Counselors. She has three degrees from institutions within the Southwestern Branch of the ESA: a B.S. from Texas A&M University, an M.S. from New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. from OSU. She has been coordinating insect expositions since 1999 and crowned this achievement with an event for 3,500 at the International Congress of Entomology in 2016. Dr. Shufran teaches two undergraduate courses at OSU: Entomology for Educators and Internship in Teaching and Outreach, which provide opportunities to use arthropods for development of teaching and public- speaking skills. She loves her job because each day is a new and dynamic experience. Off-campus, Dr. Shufran enjoys gardening, reading, skeet, and time with her husband and two dogs. With thousands of arthropods to care for daily, she does not keep any as pets. Opening Plenary
52 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
The winners of the ESA Professional, Certification Corporation, and Entomological Foundation Awards will be honored during our first Awards Breakfast starting at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, November 7, in the Four Seasons Ballroom of the Convention Center. In addition, Carol Anelli will deliver the Founders’ Memorial Lecture honoring Anna Botsford Comstock. A hot buffet breakfast will be served. Tickets are required for this event: $5 Student Members | $7.50 Early-Career Members | $10 Members | $20 Non-Members
ESA Professional Awards Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension Award for Excellence in Integrated This annual award recognizes outstanding contributions to Pest Management extension entomology. This award, which is sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection, Carol Black, pesticide education specialist recognizes outstanding contributions that have a direct at Washington State University (WSU), relation to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). directs the Urban IPM and Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). She received her Dr. Elizabeth (Betsy) Beers is a professor B.S. (agricultural biology and pest of entomology at Washington State management) from New Mexico State University and an University, located at the Tree Fruit Research M.S. (forest insect ecology) from WSU. Carol is a strong & Extension Center in Wenatchee, Washington. proponent of teamwork and feels that her program’s She earned her Ph.D. in entomology at Penn success is due to the contributions of her staff, WSU State under the direction of Dr. Larry Hull. Dr. Beers’ colleagues, networks, and coalitions. program has covered various aspects of tree fruit Her self-supported program is a national model for research and extension for the past 32 years at the self-sustained extension programming. PSEP serves a heart of one of the largest and most innovative tree wide array of clientele: farmers, foresters, public health fruit industries in the nation. professionals, aerial applicators, pest management Her research and outreach program during this time had professionals, and landscape managers, to name a few. adapted to the needs of the industry, and although the They all need to be well-versed in the fundamentals target pest has changed over time, the approach has of pesticide laws, product labeling, personal safety, always worked toward a broad-based IPM program. resistance management, and environmental protection Early work focused on secondary pests, where the (including pollinators, beneficial insects, surface and opportunity for partial or complete biological control is groundwater, and more), which ensures continued the greatest. Pests included aphids, leafhoppers, and access to efficacious pesticides important to public Awards Breakfast leafminers, some of which were reduced to non-pest health, landscape, and agricultural communities. status. A career-long area of interest is conservation Annually, PSEP reaches over 4,500 professional biological control of spider mites, a successful program applicators/growers through pesticide recertification and started in the 1960s by colleague and mentor Dr. Stan pre-license training courses across Washington State. Hoyt. This program continues today by examining PSEP offers 70 training days in 39 cities as well as one the nontarget effects of a new suite of pesticides, aerial applicator fly-in. Carol pioneered online training with recent work on how the phytoseiid complex has and still “hits the road” to conduct face-to-face training. responded to those changes. The most recent projects She manages EPA’s Pesticide Regulatory Education have focused on two invasive species that threaten Program, which provides professional development to Washington’s tree crops, spotted wing drosophila and state, territory, and tribal program managers and senior brown marmorated stink bug. The ongoing challenge is scientists. Carol helped found the National Stakeholder to find management solutions that are not disruptive to Team for Pesticide Safety Education Program Funding existing IPM programs by reducing the nontarget effects and developed much of the baseline data and reports. of pesticides and increasing the number of control Her national and international work on pesticide spray tactics available. drift and personal protective equipment has resulted in changes to national policy.
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 53 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
Distinguished Achievement Award in Distinguished Achievement Award Horticultural Entomology in Teaching This award honors any entomologist who has contributed to This award is presented annually to the member of the Society the American horticulture industry. deemed to be the most outstanding teacher of the year.
Dr. David Smitley is a full professor and Dr. Wyatt Hoback, assistant professor of Michigan State University (MSU) extension entomology at Oklahoma State University specialist working closely with the turfgrass, (OSU), has been teaching undergraduate nursery, landscape, and floriculture industries and graduate entomology courses for 18 to identify and solve insect pest problems. In years. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1991, Dr. Smitley worked with Forest Service colleagues entomology from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln to introduce Entomophaga maimaiga, a natural fungal and an M.S. in biology from Missouri State University. pathogen of gypsy moth, into Michigan, precipitating a He taught traditional and online classes in entomology widespread collapse of gypsy moth throughout the state and biology for 15 years in the University of Nebraska over the next eight years. system. At OSU, he teaches a non-majors course titled “Insects and Society” to more than 700 students each In 1999, Dr. Smitley introduced a pathogen of Japanese year. He wrote an online textbook for the course and beetle, Ovavesicula popilliae, into Michigan and followed engages students with a variety of projects that allow the establishment and impact at eight locations over them to see the critical roles that insects have played in a 15-year period. Results indicate a high correlation human history and how insects affect modern food between the build-up of O. popilliae and a 75% decline production, health, and the environment. In addition, Dr. in Japanese beetle populations during the 15-year Hoback teaches two or three majors courses and study period. associated laboratories each semester, including Insect In the last 16 years, he worked extensively with Arborjet Biology and Classification, Forensic Entomology, Aquatic Inc. on the initial development and testing of the most Entomology, and Introduction to Research. He engages widely used treatment to protect trees from emerald undergraduate and graduate students in research ash borer; trunk injection with emamectin benzoate ranging from plant-insect interactions to conservation (TREEäge). During the same time period, a series of field biology of the endangered American burying beetle. trials led to publications that explain how imidacloprid These efforts have led to the publication of 120 refereed can provide a consistently high level of protection research papers. He has also authored 11 refereed against emerald ash borer when applied as a basal soil teaching articles that share laboratory exercises and drench. This gives homeowners a much-needed tool approaches that he and his students have developed. to protect urban trees using products available at local Dr. Hoback has been lead P.I. on two Higher Education garden centers. Challenge grants and, most recently, on a Multicultural In 2014, Dr. Smitley began work with nursery and Scholars Program grant to recruit Native American greenhouse growers to develop practices for producing students to complete B.S. degrees in entomology at OSU. high-quality plants that are safe for pollinators. This led to a joint effort with Steve Frank in 2016 to organize Recognition Award in Entomology the first national conference on “Protecting Pollinators This award recognizes entomologists who are making in Ornamental Landscapes.” Stimulated by the significant contributions to agriculture. conference, Dr. Smitley led a team of entomologists to publish “Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in Urban Dr. Alvin M. Simmons is a research Landscapes.” In its first year of publication (2016), entomologist with the USDA-ARS U.S. this bulletin was accessed more than any other MSU Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, South Extension publication, with 9,000+ page views and Carolina, and is the 2017 recipient of the 5,200+ downloads. ESA Recognition Award in Entomology. Alvin had copious amounts of entomological ventures while growing up on his parents’ farm in eastern North Carolina. Alvin received a B.S. in biology (East Carolina University), and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in entomology (University of Kentucky). Alvin conducts Awards Breakfast
54 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
research on sustainable approaches for pest Dr. Palli has received several prestigious awards at the management in specialty crops, and serves as interim University of Kentucky, including a University Research coordinator for USDA-ARS Minor Use Pesticide Professorship, Fulbright-Nehru Award, the Thomas Poe Program for Food and Ornamental Horticulture. Alvin Cooper Research Award, the Bobby Pass Excellence has authored/co-authored 104 refereed journal articles, in Grantsmanship Award, the High Impact Research/ has provided more than 300 technical reports to the Extension Award, the High Impact Paper Award, and national IR-4 program (resulting in over 200 pesticide the Wethington Award. Dr. Palli was named as an ESA labels for specialty crops), and has presented over 200 Fellow in 2014 and is also the recipient of the ESA research papers. Alvin led graduate and undergraduate Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, students in his laboratory while serving as adjunct with and Toxicology. He has organized and chaired several Claflin University, Clemson University, and College of symposia at ESA annual meetings and international Charleston. Alvin has served ESA in many roles conferences. Dr. Palli also served as president of the including: co-chair of the 2016 International Congress of ESA’s Physiology, Biochemistry, and Toxicology Section. Entomology, Entomological Foundation Board of He currently serves on the editorial boards of 10 journals Counselors, chair of the International Affairs Committee, and served on grant review panels of NSF, USDA, and president of the Southeastern Branch-ESA, Program NIH. He also serves as the co-director of the Center for Committee co-chair, Committee on Education and Arthropod Management Technologies, NSF Industry and Youth, Linnaean Committee, etc. He currently serves on University Cooperative Research Center. the 2020 ICE Organizing Committee, Host Plant Resistance to Insect Steering Committee, and others. Recognition Award in Insect Physiology, Alvin’s honors include: first Department of Entomology Distinguished Alumni Award at University of Kentucky, Biochemistry, & Toxicology IR-4 Meritorious Award, SEB-ESA Award for Excellence This award, sponsored by Apex Bait Technologies Inc., in IPM, SEB-ESA Recognition Award in Entomology, and recognizes and encourages outstanding extension, research, Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. and teaching contributions in urban entomology.
Nan-Yao Su Award for Innovation and Dr. Mariana Federica Wolfner is the Goldwin Smith Professor of Molecular Creativity in Entomology Biology and Genetics, and a Stephen H. Weiss Each year this award is given to an ESA member who Presidential Fellow, at Cornell University. is able to demonstrate through his or her projects or After receiving her B.A. in biology and accomplishments an ability to identify problems and develop chemistry from Cornell, she did Ph.D. research in creative, alternative solutions that significantly impact biochemistry at Stanford University, and postdoctoral entomology. work at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Wolfner
studies the molecular, genetic, and physiological Awards Breakfast Dr. Subba Reddy Palli is a professor of underpinnings of reproduction and fertility. After entomology at the University of Kentucky. He graduate and postdoctoral studies that identified is internationally recognized for his research critical genes in Drosophila’s steroid-response and on hormonal regulation of molting, sex determination, respectively, Dr. Wolfner established metamorphosis, and reproduction, her lab at Cornell. There, she and her students and development of ecdysone receptor-based gene postdocs utilized molecular genetics to show that switches, and RNAi-based pest management. He has males’ seminal proteins modulate the physiology, published 170 journal articles and book chapters and behavior, and longevity of mated female Drosophila co-edited a book. He is also a co-inventor on 28 and Aedes mosquitoes (the latter in collaboration with patents. Dr. Palli received his doctorate from the Laura Harrington at Cornell). The Wolfner lab identified University of Western Ontario and trained as a mechanisms by which specific seminal proteins interact postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington. with female molecules or neurons to regulate phenomena Subsequently, Dr. Palli worked at the Canadian Forest such as egg production, reproductive physiology, and Service and Rohm and Haas Company. He joined the female sperm choice (the latter in collaboration with University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology in Andrew Clark at Cornell). In another area, the Wolfner 2002; currently, he serves as the chair of this department. Lab uncovered how insect eggs “activate” to undertake
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 55 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
embryogenesis upon fertilization, revealing both Thomas Say Award insect-specific and highly-conserved triggers for this process. Dr. Wolfner has mentored nearly 40 graduate This ESA award acknowledges significant and outstanding students and 30 postdoctoral scholars, as well as more work in the fields of insect systematics, morphology, or evolution. than 80 undergraduate or high school students. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement Dr. Michael S. Engel grew up in the 1970s of Science, and has also received awards for her exploring the environs about his family’s teaching and mentorship. Dr. Wolfner publishes actively, homes in California and Arizona. He and serves on multiple editorial boards and grant eventually matriculated at the University of panels, and on boards of scientific societies. Kansas, receiving a B.S. in physiology and cell biology and a B.A. in chemistry (1993), and then proceeded to Cornell University for a Ph.D. in systematic Recognition Award in Urban Entomology entomology (1998). He served as a research scientist at This award recognizes and encourages outstanding the American Museum of Natural History in New York for extension, research, and teaching contributions in urban two years before returning to the University of Kansas, entomology. where he is today a professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and senior curator in the Dr. Brian T. Forschler is professor of Natural History Museum’s Division of Entomology. entomology at the University of Georgia Dr. Engel is an internationally recognized systematic (UGA), and P.I. for the Household and entomologist and invertebrate paleontologist, working Structural Entomology Research Program. broadly on the evolutionary history of arthropods and He received three higher degrees, all in most widely known for co-authoring Evolution of the entomology specializing in insect pathology, with a B.S. Insects (2005). His research has contributed to an and M.S. from the University of Kentucky and Ph.D. understanding of the geological history, phylogenetic from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining UGA in relationships, past and present diversity, and evolution of 1991, Dr. Forschler worked on a postdoctoral many insect and related arthropod lineages, conducting appointment at the University of Arkansas. work in 40 countries. He is also known for his studies Dr. Forschler has a teaching and research appointment on the systematics and biology of modern bees and that includes, over the last two decades, teaching Zoraptera. graduate and undergraduate-level courses on urban Among other awards, Dr. Engel was honored previously entomology and IPM. He has acted as major advisor as a Guggenheim Fellow (2006), Fellow of the Linnean for 11 postdoctoral associates, six Ph.D. students, Society of London (2000), Fellow of the Paleontological and 12 master’s students and directed studies for 18 Society (2008), and recently as an ESA Fellow (2017). undergraduates, in addition to sitting on 16 student advisory committees. Dr. Forschler is chairperson for the Termiticide Scientific Review Panel and is a member of the ASPCRO Termiticide Label Review Committee and Early Career Professional (ECP) Awards the Georgia Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Commission. He has had cooperative research agreements with Madihol University in Bangkok, Henry & Silvia Richardson Research Grant Thailand, the RISH Institute at Kyoto University, the This grant provides research funds to postdoctoral ESA BAM Institute in Berlin, Germany, and the Vietnam members who have at least one year of promising work Academy for Water Resources in Hanoi, Vietnam; he experience, are undertaking research in selected areas, and has organized 13 national and international symposia have demonstrated a high level of scholarship. on urban insect pest biology/management. He is author of over 100 scientific and popular press articles Dr. Justin George is a postdoctoral on household and structural insect pests and has researcher at the USDA-ARS U.S. conducted training sessions for industry and regulatory Horticultural Research Lab, Fort Pierce, officials in the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Florida. He received a B.S. in agriculture from Kerala Agricultural University in Kerala, India. He completed his M.S. in entomology at University of Kentucky with Dr. Daniel Potter, and his Ph.D. at Awards Breakfast
56 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
Pennsylvania State University with Dr. Thomas Baker. Annual Review of Entomology and eLife publications on His Ph.D. work focused on the chemical ecology and tsetse reproduction and development, and a recent neuroethology of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles publication on tick stress biology that was an Editor’s stephensi. He showed how the peripheral olfactory Choice in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Along responses of mosquitoes are altered following infection with his publication record, Dr. Benoit has presented on by fungal and plasmodium pathogens. Dr. George’s over 150 occasions, has received 40 scientific awards, postdoctoral research with Dr. Stephen Lapointe and has served as a grant/award reviewer for multiple focuses on understanding the Asian citrus psyllid’s agencies, including the National Science Foundation, chemical ecology, neurophysiology, and host-vector- South African National Research Foundation, National pathogen interactions involved in citrus greening Institutes of Health, and the Entomological Society of disease. He discovered and optimized a three- America. During his time at the University of Cincinnati, component phagostimulant blend that dramatically more than 30 undergraduates have performed research increases psyllid probing. His current research focuses within the Benoit Lab and are included on eight on developing an attract-and-kill device by taking publications. In addition to his research, Dr. Benoit is advantage of the psyllid’s response to color, odor, and involved in multiple outreach projects, including a surface chemistry, thereby minimizing the use of 10-week course for the Cincinnati Public Schools broad-spectrum insecticides. on arthropod vector biology and the impact of arthropod-associated diseases on human health Dr. George has used electrical penetration graph and agricultural development. (EPG) as a tool to understand the feeding behavior of Asian citrus psyllid nymphs and adults. He described resistance mechanisms that inhibit stylet penetration ECP Outreach and Public Engagement Award of phloem elements in citrus leaves. He extended the This award honors a student transition or early professional utility of EPG by generating machine learning algorithms working within the field of entomology who has for automated classification of EPG waveforms. He has demonstrated excellence, leadership, and creativity in authored/co-authored 16 peer-reviewed publications, outreach and public engagement. and has given 40+ scientific presentations at national and international venues. Dr. George is a member of Nancy Miorelli earned her B.S in biology the Program and Student Awards Committees for the from Union College before graduating with Southeastern branch of ESA. her M.S. in entomology from the University of Georgia. Upon graduation, Nancy relocated Early Career Innovation Award to Ecuador, where she is currently residing in the heart of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest in the This award, sponsored by BASF, honors young professionals Maquipucuna Reserve. working within the field of entomology who have demonstrated innovation through contributions within any area of Within the Maquipucuna Reserve, Nancy gives Awards Breakfast specialization. presentations highlighting insects that can be found in the Ecuadorian cloud forest and their ecology. Nancy Dr. Joshua Benoit received his doctorate routinely gives guided tours both during the day and from The Ohio State University studying at night to show visitors the insects found within the stress tolerance in terrestrial arthropods. His reserve. She designs environmental education programs postdoctoral research was at Yale University for Ecuadorian students, aids in student research on tsetse fly reproductive physiology. projects, and gives guest lectures to universities and Currently, Dr. Benoit’s research at the University of EcoLodges throughout Ecuador. Cincinnati centers on the integrative physiology of Nancy promotes science communication online as well. arthropods, particularly stress tolerance, dormancy- She is the co-founder and co-author of the blog “Ask an induced changes, and reproduction using Entomologist,” which seeks to help people answer their sanguinivorous and non-sanguinivorous arthropod questions about insects. Nancy has also been featured models. Dr. Benoit has published over 100 research on the Twitter account “Real Scientists,” which boasts papers on arthropod biology since 2003 with over 50 over 52,000 followers. This opportunity popularized focused on blood-feeding arthropods. The highlights are her hashtag #facebug, which aims to show a diversity the publication of the bed bug and tsetse fly genomes of arthropods and disseminate information about their (Nature Communications and Science, respectively), conservation status, research importance, and biology.
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 57 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
It has been featured in magazines and newspapers ECP Research Award around the world and was featured on NPR. This award recognizes a student transition or early Finally, in her free time, Nancy makes entomological, professional who has made outstanding research conservation-minded jewelry featuring Ecuadorian contributions to the field of entomology. materials. Profits from this initiative, along with Nancy’s personal time and effort, go to her housing project Dr. Daniel R. Swale started as an assistant providing homes to those people who lost everything professor of entomology at Louisiana State during the series of earthquakes that plagued the University in April 2015. Dr. Swale received Ecuadorian coast in 2016. broad training in insect neurophysiology and toxicology during his master’s (Virginia Tech) ECP Extension Award and doctoral (University of Florida) studies that aimed to characterize the biochemical, physiological, and This award is given to a student transition or early toxicological properties of the acetylcholinesterase professional who excels in entomological extension. enzyme within multiple arthropod disease vectors. As a Dr. Kelly Hamby is an assistant professor postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt Medical Center and extension specialist in the Department of (Department of Anesthesiology), Dr. Swale received Entomology at the University of Maryland- training on the molecular physiology, chemical genetics, College Park. She received her B.S. in and electrophysiology of insect and mammalian environmental toxicology at the University of potassium ion channels. Dr. Swale has since established California-Davis, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in entomology his own research program that aims to define the with Dr. Frank Zalom at the University of California- physiological role and toxicological potential of Davis, where she was supported by an NSF graduate underexplored ion channels to ultimately provide insights research fellowship. Her research and extension into future target sites for arthropod control. At Louisiana program addresses invasive and emerging insect pest State University, the areas of emphasis for the Swale issues, evaluating and optimizing pest management Lab are to 1) characterize the molecular physiology of programs, and development of sustainable alternative K+ ion transport pathways in the nervous system of management tactics. insects, 2) define the pathways for transepithelial ion and fluid secretion within the acini of arthropod salivary Dr. Hamby is particularly interested in understanding glands, 3) characterize and exploit novel physiological and exploiting insect interactions with free-living pathways to enhance honey bee health, and 4) develop microorganisms for sustainable pest management. translational delivery methods for the dissemination Her current work includes characterizing spotted of products. wing drosophila’s interactions with yeast and fruit rot microorganisms and developing cultural control tactics In addition to scientific advancements that are for this invasive pest of small fruit. Her lab is also broadening the scope of entomology, his program evaluating the pest suppression benefits and non-target provides the opportunity for K-12, undergraduate, impacts of neonicotinoid seed treatments in mid- and graduate students to receive hands-on research Atlantic grain crop rotations. Dr. Hamby delivers timely, experience in the fields of neurophysiology and research-based extension programming via extension neurobiology. As a teacher, Dr. Swale strives to make publications, field days, and winter meetings, serving molecular, physiological, and toxicological concepts the needs of Maryland’s grain producers and diversified accessible to students from all disciplines. small fruit farmers. In addition to her research and extension responsibilities, Dr. Hamby teaches integrated pest management and provides K-12 outreach with hands-on pest management activities. Awards Breakfast
58 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
ECP Teaching Award Entomological Society of America This award is given to a student transition or early Certification Corporation Awards professional who excels in entomological education.
Dr. Erika Machtinger is an assistant Distinguished Service Award to the professor at Penn State University. Her Certification Program research focuses on arthropod pests of veterinary concern. Along with being an The purpose of this award is to encourage, recognize, and entomologist, Erika is also a Certified Wildlife reward outstanding contributions to the ESA Certification Biologist® and specializes in zoonotic and other Program and the professionalism of entomology. vector-borne diseases in wildlife and equine systems. Dr. Rebecca Baldwin is an associate Erika holds a B.S. from the University of Delaware in professor and is the undergraduate wildlife conservation and ecology, and an M.S. and coordinator for the University of Florida (UF) Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Florida. Entomology and Nematology Department. As a graduate student, Erika worked on biological She became interested in entomology as a control agents of filth flies under Dr. Chris Geden of child through the 4-H club in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, the USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and and shares her love of entomology and education by Veterinary Entomology. Her postdoctoral work focused directing the UF Entomology Education and Outreach on integrated tick management at the USDA-ARS in Program (The Bug Club), by mentoring and advising Beltsville, Maryland, under Dr. Andrew Li. students, by volunteering for the Entomological As a graduate student at the University of Florida, Foundation, and by teaching general education and Erika was the teaching assistant supervisor for the introductory entomology courses to undergraduates. Introduction to Entomology Laboratory. In collaboration Her research program focuses on entomology education with her faculty supervisor and teaching mentor Dr. and integrated pest management tools for crawling Christine Miller, Erika developed syllabi and lesson plans insect control. Outside of the classroom, Rebecca and coordinated six to seven sections of the course, provides CEU and recertification training for educators, serving as a mentor for new graduate student TAs. Erika pest control operators, and mosquito managers, as well developed an original lesson plan for this course, which as for pest management associations. Rebecca is a was published in American Biology Teacher, and won Board-Certified Entomologist, serves on the ESA the University of Florida Graduate Teaching Award. Education and Outreach Committee, and is on the Board of Directors for the Entomological Foundation. While her current appointment does not include a Rebecca regularly provides workshops for pest teaching assignment at Penn State, Erika will be actively managers who aspire to become Associate Certified
engaged in Extension activities, and will be able to Awards Breakfast Entomologists. continue to develop her teaching skills with a new demographic of adult learners. Rebecca holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, where her research focused on people’s perceptions of pest management and integrated pest management of cockroaches using fatty acid salts. She received her B.A. and M.S. degrees in biology from the University of Louisiana-Monroe. She lives in North Central Florida, where she and her husband Richard are active members of Westside Baptist Church.
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 59 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
ACE Professional Award Entomological Foundation Awards The purpose of the award is to recognize superior contributions of an ACE in the field of structural pest President’s Prize for Outstanding management. Achievement in Primary Education Alan Feuer, ACE, is currently the technical This award recognizes educators who have gone beyond the director and lead ACE for Preventive Pest traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational Control (PPC), Albuquerque, New Mexico. tools in grades K-6. Alan began his career in pest management in 1989 following a tour in the U.S. Marine Lara Guerra teaches elementary science to Corps. Alan’s current duties include training and girls in pre-kindergarten through second development for technical/sales/customer service grade at the Hockaday School in Dallas, support personnel for PPC as well as designing service Texas. She also coordinates the Hockaday protocols and SOP in support of pest management Lower School Garden and is currently operations. developing an interdisciplinary garden curriculum for students in the Lower School. Hockaday is the largest Alan serves as the PPC liaison to the Greater girls’ school in the United States, and Lara has a deep Albuquerque Association of Realtors (GAAR), where he belief in the transformative power of a single-sex currently is serving as the Affiliates Committee chairman, education for girls and young women. and is a certified instructor for the New Mexico Real Estate Commission (NMREC). He is also the current Lara is a Texas native and grew up in the Dallas-Fort secretary/treasurer and training coordinator for the New Worth area at a time when children would play outside Mexico Pest Management Association (NMPMA) and is until the street lights came on. She spent many happy the 2017-2018 chair of the Wood Destroying Organism hours with her brothers in the fields behind her house. (WDO) Committee of the National Pest Management Insects, birds, lizards, and building forts in the woods Association (NPMA). filled her formative years; in the process, she absorbed a deep love and respect for nature. Her interests in Outbound training is one of Alan’s passions, and he gardening and hobby beekeeping are a direct result of is blessed to be able to spend about 20% of his time her childhood experiences. instructing or preparing classes for Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors (GAAR), New Mexico Real Lara’s childhood experiences also inform her work as Estate Commission (NMREC), New Mexico Pest a teacher, and she is committed to providing similar Management Association (NMPMA), or other local hands-on learning opportunities for her young students. groups. His latest investment is to partner with property In the classroom, she delights in weaving the arts, managers and elder care providers in the realm of better humanities, and science together into a cross-curricular understanding how to best avoid or mitigate bed bugs learning experience. She encourages her students in the homes of the most financially/physically/resource- to engage nature, and the “Wonder Wall” outside her challenged members of our community. classroom door is a repository of all of the wonderful rocks, insects, leaves, and treasures that her students Alan wants to thank all of his mentors from NMPMA for find and bring to school. their wisdom, counsel, and encouragement, and also the industry instructors, vendors, and manufacturers Lara received her B.A. from Smith College in who invested in providing training and education to the Northampton, Massachusetts, and her M.L.S. from pest management industry in New Mexico. Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Awards Breakfast
60 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 7:30 AM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Awards Breakfast: ESA Professional Awards, ECP Awards, Certification Awards, and Foundation Awards
President’s Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Secondary Education This award recognizes educators who have gone beyond the traditional teaching methods by using insects as educational tools in grades 7-12.
Gregory Bisbee has been teaching high school science and biology since 1988 and currently teaches biology, biotechnology, and a plant-based advanced ecology course at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin. He has the reputation of being “that teacher”—the one who makes class very challenging, but interesting and fun. In the words of his students, “… he’s a great teacher if you really care about learning biology.” His students planted, and now help to maintain, several acres of prairie and woodland on the school campus. It is in these areas that they conduct population studies, pollinator observations, and other lab activities. Greg is passionate about teaching and learning, and gets really excited about native plants and insects. He frequently presents at local, state, regional, and national science education conferences and has several publications. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Wisconsin (2007) and enjoys participating in programs that allow him to travel and work on research, always looking for new techniques to use in the classroom. He lives on a five-acre prairie with his wife, Pam, and a large, unruly Great Pyrenees named Miley. Awards Breakfast YouTube Your Entomology Stinger Awards (2017 Finalists)
“Ant Plants: Cecropia – Azteca Symbiosis” Peter Marting and Andrew Quitmeyer “Bt Sweet Corn: Is It Safe to Eat?” Galen Dively, Ian Howard, and Taylor Schulden “Method to Create a “Window” Into a Butterfly Wing” Aaron Pomerantz “The Odd Couples: Pollinators” Ethel M. Villalobos, Jonathan Wright, and Jonathan Koch “The Soil Food Web” Maxwell Helmberger
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 61 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 6:30 PM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Student Awards Ceremony: ESA Student Awards
The winners of the Student Competition for the President’s Prize, ESA Student Awards, Linnaean Games, and Student Debates will be announced on Tuesday, November 7, starting at 6:30 PM in the Four Seasons Ballroom of the Convention Center.
John Henry Comstock Graduate Dr. Chong Chin Heo (Southwestern Branch) was born and raised in Malaysia. He Student Awards obtained his bachelor’s in biomedical These six awards are given to one graduate student from sciences (Hons.) (2006) and master’s in each ESA Branch to promote interest in entomology and to medical science (parasitology) (2009) from stimulate interest in attending the ESA Annual Meeting. the National University of Malaysia. He then earned his Ph.D. from the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M Dr. Flor Edith Acevedo (Eastern Branch) is University, in 2016. He is currently a faculty member at currently a research associate at the the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Colombian Center for Coffee Research, Malaysia. Prior to that, he was a research officer at the Cenicafé. She received her Ph.D. in Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur. His entomology from The Pennsylvania State research interests are carrion decomposition ecology, University in 2016, under the supervision of Dr. Gary biodiversity of necrophagous and coprophagous Felton. Her dissertation research focused on the study dipteran species, and forensic entomology/acarology. of plant defense responses induced by insect herbivores As of 2017, he has published 43 peer-reviewed journal and counter insect adaptation mechanisms. The results articles, one book, and one book chapter. He has of this work highlight the importance of insect delivered more than 70 platforms and poster physiological, morphological, and behavioral plasticity as presentations at local and international conferences. He key factors that enable the utilization of different host received the Perdana Scholar Award from the Malaysian plants. Flor E. received her bachelor’s degree in Embassy at Washington, DC (2016); the Vice President agronomy from Universidad de Caldas (Colombia) in Award for Research Excellence from Texas A&M 2006; in her undergrad thesis research, she developed University (2015); and a scholarship from the Medical, DNA molecular markers for the coffee berry borer, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology Section, Hypothenemus hampei, to study the dispersion of this Entomological Society of America, during the 2015 ESA insect. She then joined the entomology team at Conference at Minneapolis. Chong Chin was also a Cenicafé, where she studied the genetic variability of the team member in the ESA Linnaean Games representing coffee berry borer in Colombia. In 2006, she was a Texas A&M University. Additionally, Chong Chin has short-term scholar at the University of Florida Tropical been a Board-Certified Entomologist (BCE) since 2016. Research and Education Center, TREC, where she Currently, he is the assistant secretary for the Malaysian searched for natural enemies of the avocado lace bug Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM), Pseudacysta perseae. During this short visit, Flor E. member of the North American Forensic Entomology made important contributions that led to three research Association (NAFEA), and member of the European papers published in 2008-2009; notably, she was able Association for Forensic Entomology (EAFE). to find a new predator of avocado lace bugs, Tingidoletes praelonga Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), which was classified in a genus and species new to Dr. Amelia Lindsey (Pacific Branch) science. In 2010, she started her Ph.D. program at received her Ph.D. from the University of Penn State partially sponsored by a Fulbright California-Riverside (UCR), under the scholarship. Part of her dissertation has been published direction of Dr. Richard Stouthamer. Amelia in two recent research papers (2017), and four more are received her bachelor’s degree in biological in the process of submission. Flor E. is strongly sciences cum laude from San José State University, captivated by research in the field of insect-plant where she became enamored with insects and their interactions and would like to use genetic engineering symbioses. Her dissertation research focused on the techniques to study intrinsic mechanisms shaping these genomic and evolutionary consequences of infection interactions with the ultimate goal of increasing host with parthenogenesis—inducing Wolbachia, in the plant resistance to biotic stress. parasitoid wasp Trichogramma. During her time as a Chancellor’s Fellow at UCR, she was awarded an NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant, a USDA NIFA tudent Awards Predoctoral Fellowship, two van den Bosch
S Scholarships for Research in Biological Control, and
62 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 6:30 PM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Student Awards Ceremony: ESA Student Awards
multiple UCR scholarships. In addition to research, she Dr. Kayla I. Perry (North Central Branch) enjoyed coaching for the Science Olympiad, leading received her Ph.D. in entomology from The outreach events for the Inland Empire community, and Ohio State University in 2016 where she was moderating the social media pages for UCR Entomology advised by Dr. Daniel A. Herms. Kayla’s and the Annual Riverside Insect Fair. As a student research focused on elucidating mechanisms member of ESA, she organized symposia, competed that explain the role of natural and anthropogenic with the UCR Linnaean Games team, including the 2013 disturbances in maintaining ground-dwelling arthropod national champion team, and won several President’s diversity, structure, and function in forest ecosystems. Prize presentation awards. She is now a postdoctoral She proposed three dynamic conceptual models research associate at Indiana University, working with describing the temporal relationship in the effect sizes of Drs. Irene Newton and Richard Hardy on the functional canopy gaps and woody debris caused by disturbance genomics of Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking. from emerald ash borer, intense winds from a tornado, and salvage logging on ground-dwelling arthropod communities. Her work has identified canopy gap Ashley Mortensen (Southeastern Branch) formation following tree mortality as a primary driver of is a University of Florida (UF) doctoral ground-dwelling arthropod diversity and community candidate in the Entomology & Nematology structure. Kayla developed a novel self mark-capture Department. She received a B.S. in animal technique using fluorescent powder to investigate the science from Texas A&M University in 2005 movement of arthropods in the field. She found the and an M.S. in entomology from UF in 2013. Ashley’s dispersal of ground-dwelling arthropods was generally current research aims to determine if key honey bee limited, and movement was further reduced following behaviors are instinctual or learned by examining the disturbance to the forest canopy and understory, role that the juvenile rearing environment plays on adult suggesting slow recolonization after disturbance with behavior. In vitro rearing of honey bee brood is an implications for ecosystem services. Kayla received a emerging risk assessment tool that has been B.S. in biology from Baldwin Wallace College in 2010, implemented in compound safety screening and participated in the Research Experience for requirements for the OECD. Ashley’s research will better Undergraduates program at the Rocky Mountain inform how investigators interpret the findings of these Biological Laboratory in 2009, where she was advised risk assessments. Ashley is an active contributor to UF’s by Dr. Kailen A. Mooney. Kayla is currently a teaching and extension programs. She has developed postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Mary M. and taught a beekeeping field techniques course; Gardiner investigating mechanisms of ground-dwelling redesigned, taught, and assisted the department’s arthropod community assembly in urban landscapes online beekeeping course; led Introduction to using a functional trait-based approach. Entomology laboratory sections; and provided numerous guest lectures and field presentations for departmental courses. To share relevant research Isobel Ronai (International Branch) began
findings and beekeeping knowledge with a broader her career at The University of Sydney, S audience, Ashley co-created a social medial strategy via Australia, with a B.Sc. (Honors, Class 1) tudent Awards Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@UFHoneyBeeLab), majoring in biology and history and through which she shares research updates and other philosophy of science. In 2013, Isobel honey bee related information to over 7,500 followers started her Ph.D. in the Behavior and Genetics of Social across the three sites. Ashley also produces blog and Insects Laboratory under Professor Ben Oldroyd. newsletter posts, extension reports, web-based Isobel’s Ph.D. investigated the genetic and mechanistic presentations, in-person presentations, and workshops. basis of worker sterility in the honey bee. The evolution Ashley is graduating this December, and she is actively of sterility is a conundrum because workers “altruistically” pursuing future teaching, research, and extension forgo personal reproduction. Isobel utilized an evo-devo opportunities in apiculture and behavioral ecology. framework to propose that the mechanistic basis of worker sterility can be conceptualized as “reproductive control points,” which reduce the reproductive capacity of workers. Isobel’s research showed that the mechanism underlying the reproductive control points is
ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO 63 Awards: Tuesday, November 7 6:30 PM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Student Awards Ceremony: ESA Student Awards
programmed cell death. Isobel’s thesis is therefore an In the future, John hopes to be able to work important contribution to a mechanistic understanding cooperatively with growers, researchers, industry, of worker sterility, and provides insights into how this and other extension personnel to evaluate existing trait emerged from a solitary ancestor. She recently and propose new methods for scouting crops and submitted her Ph.D. thesis, which was accepted without making management decisions for pests in Texas any changes, and all chapters (five papers) have been and the southern United States. John would like to published in leading journals. thank the Entomological Society of America and Dow AgroSciences for sponsoring this prestigious award. Isobel is a highly motivated early career researcher who has been awarded 30+ competitive research grants, prizes, and travel awards. During the four years of Lillian and Alex Feir Graduate Student Travel Isobel’s Ph.D., she presented at seven international Award in Insect Physiology, Biochemistry, or and 11 national conferences. Isobel is heavily involved Molecular Biology in entomological and genetics societies. She is the International Branch representative on the Early Career The purpose of this ESA award is to encourage graduate Professionals Committee of ESA and helped organize students working with insects or other arthropods in the an ENTOMOLOGY 2017 Program Symposium. Isobel broad areas of physiology, biochemistry, and molecular is particularly fascinated by genetics and will pursue a biology to affiliate with ESA’s Physiology, Biochemistry, and research career in the genetics of insects. Toxicology Section and to attend the ESA Annual Meeting.
Dr. Isobel Ronai began her career at The ESA Student Awards University of Sydney, Australia, with a B.Sc. (Honors, Class 1) majoring in biology and Larry Larson Graduate Student Award for history and philosophy of science. In 2013, Leadership In Applied Entomology Isobel started her Ph.D. in the Behavior and Genetics of Social Insects Laboratory under Prof. Ben This ESA award, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, Oldroyd. Isobel’s Ph.D. investigated the genetic and recognizes Dr. Larry Larson’s role as a leader and pioneer mechanistic basis of worker sterility in the honey bee. in insect management and carries that legacy to the next The evolution of sterility is a conundrum because workers generation of leaders in applied entomology. “altruistically” forgo personal reproduction. Isobel utilized an evo-devo framework to propose that the mechanistic John Gordy received his B.S. from Texas basis of worker sterility can be conceptualized as A&M University with a double major in “reproductive control points,” which reduce the agronomy and entomology. He received his reproductive capacity of workers. Isobel’s research M.S. in entomology from Louisiana State showed that the mechanism underlying the reproductive University working with Drs. Michael Stout control points is programmed cell death. Isobel’s thesis is and Rogers Leonard in the rice and cotton labs, where therefore an important contribution to a mechanistic his thesis focused on induced defenses in cotton, rice, understanding of worker sterility, and provides insights corn, and soybean. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at into how this trait emerged from a solitary ancestor. She Texas A&M University under Drs. Michael Brewer and recently submitted her Ph.D. thesis, which was accepted Mo Way. His dissertation research includes threshold without any changes, and all chapters (five papers) have development and management of sugarcane aphid in been published in leading journals. grain sorghum. Isobel is a highly motivated early career researcher who In addition to his studies, John is a full-time extension has been awarded 30+ competitive research grants, agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. He is prizes, and travel awards. During the four years of passionate about agriculture and enjoys being able to Isobel’s Ph.D., she presented at seven international interact with producers on a day-to-day basis to better and 11 national conferences. Isobel is heavily involved understand their challenges and help them identify in entomological and genetics societies. She is the solutions. He enjoys getting to work closely with several International Branch representative on the Early Career growers to conduct on-farm research in the Upper Gulf Professionals Committee of ESA and helped organize Coast Region of Texas. Being a former teacher, he also an ENTOMOLOGY 2017 Program Symposium. Isobel enjoys educating youth and providing mentorship to tudent Awards is particularly fascinated by genetics and will pursue a undergraduate and high school students interested research career in the genetics of insects.
S in agriculture.
64 ENTOMOLOGY 2017 | NOVEMBER 5–8 | DENVER, COLORADO Awards: Tuesday, November 7 6:30 PM 2017 ESA, CERTIFICATION and ENTOMOLOGICAL FOUNDATION AWARDS
Student Awards Ceremony: ESA Student Awards
ESA Student Activity Award Student Certification Award Sponsored by Monsanto Company, this award will be This award recognizes and encourages outstanding presented annually to recognize a student for outstanding entomology graduate students with interest in the mission of contributions to the Society, his/her academic department, the ESA certification program. and the community, while still achieving academic excellence. Lina Bernaola was born in Lima, Peru. She received her B.S. in biological sciences and Alix Whitener is a Ph.D. candidate at a minor in molecular biology from Washington State University under the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, advisement of Dr. Elizabeth Beers. Her Peru. Her professional experience, as well as research on spotted wing drosophila (SWD) her passion in the world of plants, began when she spans much of the integrated pest joined the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima to management spectrum: behavior, monitoring, low- perform her undergraduate thesis. Based on this impact control methods, pesticide efficacy, and experience, Lina joined Louisiana State University (LSU) resistance monitoring. She recently spent five months in to pursue her M.S. in agronomy and crop sciences. Sweden exploring relationships between SWD and Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Hanseniaspora uvarum yeast in Dr. Peter Witzgall’s Entomology at LSU under the supervision of Dr. Michael chemical ecology laboratory. Alix graduated from Stout. Her research interests include plant-insect and Western Washington University (WWU) with a B.S. in plant-pathogen interactions as well as host plant anthropology and biology, minoring in women’s studies, resistance. Her project involves investigations of the and competing on WWU’s NCAA women’s rowing team. mechanistic basis of plant resistance against above- She worked seasonally as a technician in the Beers’ ground and below-ground organisms in rice. Primarily, laboratory studying natural enemies in tree fruit. she studies the effects of mycorrhizal fungi, a symbiotic soil-borne organism, on rice resistance to insect Alix serves as chair of the Student Affairs Committee herbivores. The ultimate goal of Lina’s research is to (SAC), organizing student activities including the provide a better understanding of plant-insect- Student Debates, Student Symposium, and more. mycorrhizae interactions in rice pests of Louisiana, She has served as president of WSU’s Entomology which will help to develop more effective pest Graduate Student Association, coordinating many of management programs in rice. Lina has been actively the club’s outreach events, and as a graduate student involved in the Entomological Society of America since representative to numerous academic committees at 2013. She has presented her research at several WSU. In her community, Alix volunteers as a judge and national and Southeastern Branch meetings. She also clinician in 4-H, mentors high school seniors as they enjoys conducting educational outreach about insects prepare for college, and organizes outreach events for to kids with the Entomology Club at LSU. the North Central Washington Beekeeping Association. Alix has previously been awarded the Larry Larson S Graduate Student Award for Leadership in Applied
Entomology, the Student Certification Award through tudent Awards ESA’s BCE program, the Pacific Branch Student Leadership Award, and various ESA President’s Prize awards. After graduation, Alix will pursue a career in industry or cooperative extension.
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